18th June 2007, 01:42 PM
Posted by Voice of Reason:
The particularly unfair aspect of this is that it appears to be a decision for each individual archaeologist, not for archaeological units, as it would be individuals that would get prosecuted. However, units could obtain legal advice on behalf of all of their staff.
Could this situation be resolved in the short term through a statement by the MoJ or the Crown Prosecution Service that, pending clarification of the law, they would not seek to prosecute archaeologists excavating human remains, under certain defined circumstances?
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:Time for the IFA to stop sitting on its hands and issue some practical advice rather than write letters?To issue advice of that sort would be a very dangerous thing for the IFA to do. They would either be advising people to do something that may (or may not) be illegal, or to do something that would involve refusing to comply with planning conditions. Either way, they could open themselves to criminal prosecution or civil litigation. The only advice they can realistically give is - take legal advice, and then make your own decision.
I would hope that the IFA would actually update us as members as to what we should be doing ie stop digging up human remains till resolved, or carry on - they palpably haven't done this.
The particularly unfair aspect of this is that it appears to be a decision for each individual archaeologist, not for archaeological units, as it would be individuals that would get prosecuted. However, units could obtain legal advice on behalf of all of their staff.
Could this situation be resolved in the short term through a statement by the MoJ or the Crown Prosecution Service that, pending clarification of the law, they would not seek to prosecute archaeologists excavating human remains, under certain defined circumstances?
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished